Seven Apart Expedition Napa Cabernet 2019 Rated 98+WA
- SKU:
- cellar3297
- Shipping:
- Calculated at Checkout
- Origin:
- United States
- Promotion:
- 90+ Point Wines
Rated 98+
This is the second vintage from Seven Apart - a blend coming from Stag's Ridge vineyard, located up on Atlas Peak, and Base Camp vineyard, located seven miles down the mountain (hence the name). The winemaker here is Andy Erickson, formerly at Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate and currently also consulting winemaker at Dalla Valle (among others). The upper vineyard (Stag's Ridge) is planted to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Seven miles down the road, where Soda Canyon Road meets the Silverado Trail, is the four-acre Base Camp vineyard, planted in the mid-1990s to Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Base Camp was planted in 1994 and 1998.
Opaque purple-black in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Expedition erupts from the glass with explosive scents of boysenberry preserves, blueberry pie and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of molten chocolate, licorice, tar and violets, with a waft of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is full-on rich and decadent, exuding layer upon layer of opulent black and blue fruit preserves with bags of exotic spice accents and a long, fragrant finish. Pure hedonism. It is tantalizingly delicious right now, but give it 3-4 years in bottle to blow off that puppy fat, and drink it over the next 25 years+. Drink 2024-2049.
Wine Tasting Notes
The 2019 vintage is very much defined by high energy, fine focus, and generosity. The Expedition from 2019 is bright, polished and high-powered. A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, the wine is a tapestry of perfectly ripe fruit flavors.
The red-purple hue is notable, hinting at the freshness and intensity of the aromas. Red cherry, raspberry, and fresh tobacco come to mind, with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, graphite, and California bay. On the palate there is a rush of red fruits, which continues to build in intensity as the wine is savored. The texture is incredibly fine-grained and silky, while the fruit at the wine's core expands and lengthens on the finish.